Tariffs

I told you so! I posted about this when the tariffs started that it will affect our hobby and you have already seen it with the Schlockwood being out of production and 2 of the 4 best part 15 transmitters FM and AM there are, are here in Canada. Most of Decade's and ChezRadio's business is in the USA and yes there are lots of Decade MS-100's on Ebay, even new in box for $150 for a MS-100 and no tariffs if sent to a USA location but for the Procaster, even if you get it from a USA location like Progressive Concepts they don't have stock on location. They take the order, notify ChezRadio and it's sent from here(Canada). How many Procasters do you see for sale used anywhere? I don't know if Canada's tariffs in retaliation apply to Ebay sellers of used items for shipping here but the customs just see an import of goods and I don't think they care. As for the Hamilton Rangemaster he has to have the boards made somewhere and I can state with certainty it's not in the USA...China most likely. Well for me, I'm glad that the transmitters we can use here are also Canadian located so no tariffs. Fortunately for us Canada has no tariffs on China so the Procaster AM and FM and Decade(not sure where he has the manufacturing done) aren't affected. I think ChezRadio has the cabinets made here(Canada).
And for those that think tariffs don't affect us....this from Schlockwood's site... https://www.schlockwood.com/sw200page
Yes as Artisan said it's sad. As it has already affected this industry. And this is such a niche market tariffs making the cost of the transmitters and processing gear be too costly could make the 2 transmitter manufacturers here decide to pack it in and you don't see any transmitter makers coming along to take their place. Not only that but they see the CZH series transmitters from China on Amazon for $60 with 1/2 watts of power and up and that also hurts their business. 

These tariffs are so misunderstood.

Exporter countries do not pay them.  They don't pay a single cent.  It is the American companies and individuals who import the products that pay the tariffs to the U.S. government.  Costs go up, inflation goes up.

The intent (at least theoretically), is to push cheaper imported goods prices above local ones, driving local sales and encouraging local manufacturing.  That does no good, however, when the products can't be or aren't manufactured locally, either due to lack of infrastructure, or raw materials.  It takes time and lots of money to overcome these obstacles.

In the meantime, prices still go up regardless, discouraging discretionary spending (i.e., non essentials, such as Part 15 equipment).

We've seen with COVID that once prices go up, they stay up.  Usually it's because of labor costs rising in response; workers have to be able to afford to live, otherwise, what's the point of working?

So the American public pays for the Federal Government's sudden windfall of money coming in.  And inflation makes things even worse.

Big companies may be able to absorb some of the costs to consumers.  But not all.  Adidas has already said they will be raising prices, and I'm sure many more will follow.  But it's the small companies that will be hurt the most.  Such as Part 15 equipment manufacturers.

I just learned that this week, the U.S. administration has also eliminated the $800 exemption for used/vintage/handmade goods sold through e-bay and other such vendors.  That means that unless you purchase from within the U.S., e-bay and other vendors will be obliged to collect tariffs (based on the country the seller is from).  No more saving on used items from out of country, or lower-priced new items from China.

I'm not sure what effect that would have on AliExpress, which is based outside the U.S.  Presumably, goods shipped from China would be stopped in customs, and the tariffs paid by the importer prior to delivery.

@artisan-radio So what does that mean for us here in Canada if we buy something on Ebay from a USA seller?
Will Canada customs nail us for 35% of the cost of the item(Canada's matching tariffs) and then the 13% tax on top of that? And don't forget the exchange also! So a Decade MS-100 new(open box) on Ebay right now as we speak for $150.00 which you think is a good price by the time you get it here in Canada you might as well have got it at regular price from Decade! Good for the manufactures here but most of their business is not here.
It's not just the USA doing this the retaliatory tariffs double the effect on costs.
But a new Procaster AM for those in the USA now. The price is $749.00 USD + shipping+ 35% tariff you have to pay on delivery brings the price up to(figuring $35 shipping slow way) to $1046.00. You see how this affects part 15?, and how it could kill sales and put the manufacturers out of business. Tariffs have already taken the Schlockwood processor off the market!
We have it a bit better here in Canada as the transmitters are made/based here and even though sent to China for the main board manufacturing Canada has no tariff on China, and China has no tariff on Canada, at least not for things like this.

But do people in the USA really understand how much this is hurting you? Not just with part 15 but everything?

But since most Ebay items are from USA sellers if you are in the USA you may be better off and the tariffs won't apply with Ebay items.

Nothing, unless Canada puts on counter tariffs, which it probably should and will do.

What it does mean is that U.S. individuals purchasing from Canada through e-bay will have to pay the 35% Canada tariff on goods under $800 (that were previously exempt from tariffs), unless they are CUSMA compliant.  That includes used and vintage items.  So it effectively wipes out the currency advantage the U.S. had, as C$10 would be US$10 when you add in the tariffs.

The tariffs will, of course, apply to items purchased from other countries as well, with the tariff amounts being whatever the U.S. administration has dreamed up for that country.

So, for Canadians, if you were so inclined to sell to U.S. customers through e-bay, you might as well pack it in.  As a previous e-bay seller (I will no longer deal with them), selling cross border was difficult anyway.  Canadians were much more likely to purchase from the U.S. than vice versa.  Now it will be almost impossible.

My previous post was made when only the first paragraph of Mark's was showing up.  He later added the rest, which we agree upon.

Generally speaking, certified manufactured part 15 AM transmitters are presently still considerably less expensive than they were during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s... 

Odd as that seems.